How to Convert YouTube to MP4

YouTube is a website where you can watch streaming videos. These videos are played directly from the YouTube website, and not from your computer. So, if there is a video on YouTube that you particularly like and want to save to play from your computer or a portable video player later, you must download it onto your computer first. Once it's on your computer as a file, likely FLV, convert it to an MP4 format for use on a portable video device.

Step

Download a program capable of converting YouTube videos to a file form. An example is YouTube Downloader (See Resources). After the download is complete, open the installation file to begin installing the program.

Step

Activate the program by clicking on the "Start" button in windows, then "all programs," then the converter program.

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Go to the YouTube website for the video you want. While it's playing, highlight the web address at the top of your browser. Right-click on it and select "copy". Then, right-click on where it says "Enter Video URL" in the converter program.

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Hit "OK" to download the file. This will give you the video on your computer in FLV format. To convert it to MP4, go back into the program, and select the "Convert Video (previously downloaded) from file" option.

Step

Click on the drop-down menu and make sure that "MP4" is selected. Hit "OK" again. This will convert your YouTube video to MP4.